February research newsletter
Welcome to the February edition of Research News!
Please get in touch with any feedback or suggestions for future editions of Research News.
Focus on leveraged funding
It's vital for the research projects we fund to receive further (leveraged) funding after our funding has finished, so the projects can keep pushing towards making a difference for men.
We completed an analysis of leveraged funding across our portfolio of completed research projects, to see if researchers were getting the funding they need after their projects with us had finished.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Prostate Cancer UK
Prostate Cancer UK is committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion throughout our work.
Our new EDI page outlines our priority areas and the Positive Change Framework. It also highlights and celebrates the work we have done internally, and the role of our volunteers and supporters in driving this work. This webpage holds us accountable for the work we’re committed to and highlights the value of our diverse voices and experiences.
We have made important changes to our research processes to ensure our research is relevant to diverse communities, starting with Black men who are at highest risk of prostate cancer. This includes ensuring strategies for diverse recruitment are included in funding applications for clinical trials, and ensuring diversity in patient samples used in preclinical studies.
NIHR webinar: What's next for prostate cancer research?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with over 55,000 new cases each year in the UK.
Join The National Institute for Health and Care Research to explore ongoing studies that could shape the future of treatment for localised prostate cancer.
This webinar dives into 3 ongoing trials testing innovative approaches to treatment and monitoring. Secure your spot here.
Funding opportunities
Our funding opportunities – Open now and coming soon!
Open now: Real-World Evidence for Health Equity in Prostate Cancer Awards
This call is designed to support research projects that leverage Real-World Data to fill critical evidence gaps to fully understand and address health inequity in prostate cancer, starting with Black men. We’re currently inviting expression of interest so please visit our website or contact [email protected] to find out more! Deadline 1pm on 18 March.
Open now: Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers
We partner with the Academy of Medical Sciences on these awards, designed to enable talented early-career researchers to lay the foundations for a productive research career, alongside maintaining their clinical skills and training. You can find out more about this scheme, including how to apply, on our website.
Coming soon: Career Acceleration Fellowships
Applications for our Career Acceleration Fellowships will be opening on 11 March!
Other funding opportunities
2025 PCF Young Investigator Awards
These award support young investigators and this year they are especially encouraging those working on prostate cancer health disparities to apply. The award may be used innovatively and flexibly to advance the career and research efforts of the awardee. Visit the website for more information
Call for Platform studies led by UK-Australia collaborators
Prostate cancer is one the areas of focus for a new call for collaborative platform studies.
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australia and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UK are inviting applications for ambitious platform studies in areas of unmet medical need.
The platform must be internationally collaborative, with joint leads based in Australia and the United Kingdom.
The deadline for applications is 23 July 2025.
Conference registration deadlines
Don’t miss your chance to share and network and this years major oncology and urology conferences!
See below for the registration deadlines for some of this year's events:
EAU - 18 February 2025 (to avoid late fee)
AACR - 7 March 2025
ESTRO - 2 April 2025
ASCO - 23 April 2025
EACR - 28 April 2025 (Early rate), 27 May 2025 (Regular rate)
Researcher achievements
In this new regular item, we are delighted to celebrate the following achievements from among our research community:
- Professor Susan Heavey from University College London for her promotion to Associate Professor of Translational Medicine.
- Professor Victoria James from the University of Nottingham for becoming Professor of Molecular Biology.
- Professor Fran Balkwill OBE, chair of our Research Advisory Committee, for her election as a fellow of the Royal Society.
- Dr Asma Ahmed Hassan Elshiekh, a Prostate Cancer UK Career Acceleration Fellow who has been awarded mobility funding to visit Professor Kruithof-de Julio's lab in Bern.
- Professor Paul Stewart, vice-chair of the Prostate Cancer UK board of trustees, who has received a CBE for services to medical science.
- Professor Paula Mendes from the University of Birmingham, who has received a Horizon Europe award for GLYCANREAD, which will investigate new approaches for glycan recognition and detection.
- Dr Victoria Dunne from Queens University Belfast who has been awarded a Lectureship in Molecular Radiotherapy at the Patrick G Johnston Centre of Cancer Research .
These are just the exciting achievements that we've heard about - if we've missed anything or you have an achievement of your own to share, please let us know by emailing [email protected]
